Jack has an unhealthy obsession with book ownership.

This is not to be confused with a reading obsession. C’mon – does Jack look like a guy that reads?

No – Jack just enjoys looking smart for the ladies, and nothing helps him meet that goal easier than a shelf stuffed with books.

Here’s the thing: Buying loads of books Jack has no intention on reading really is a win-win situation. Not only does he look smart (for the ladies) but he also contributes to the local economy. Plus, hey, you never know when you might need to flatten something between those dusty old pages.

So if you’re looking for Jack this weekend, you might as well start at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. Every November he loads up on new titles at their annual “Used Book Sale Extravaganza” – smart-lookin’ books, books that make Jack look like good relationship material. “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” anyone?

His secret weapon? Cookbooks. Yep, you heard it here first. Nothing says “Jack is the man for me” like a kitchen cabinet full of cookbooks.

So here’s the skinny on the big sale:

It runs Thursday through Sunday at the Fort’s Heritage Hall, which is the big yellow mansion-looking building at 30 Fort Missoula Road.

Every book except those stocked on the “specialty” table will sale for $1.50 per inch – and all proceeds will fund the museum’s new exhibits, the restoration and preservation of historic buildings and creating educational programming for all ages.

The sale starts at 10 am each day and runs until 7 pm Thursday, 5 pm Friday and Saturday and ends early at 2 pm Sunday.

Sunday is also “Super Bargain Bag Day,” with all books going for $10 per bag.

For more information, you can check out the event’s Facebook page HERE or you can call sale coordinator Jessie Rogers at 728-3476, ext. 5. She can also be reached at developmentdirector@montana.com.

A true hero isn’t attracted to glory.

But anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a heroic act knows that their humility is no excuse to neglect our gratitude.

That’s why we’re big fans of the annual Missoulian“Hometown Heroes” edition. It not only gives us an outlet to publicly express thanks to the heroes in our lives, but we also learn quite a bit about the measure of the men and women whom we (sometimes unknowingly) work and play alongside each and every day.

Sometimes a hero puts his or her safety on the line to help save lives. Sometimes they’re just community visionaries who help solve problems previously deemed unsolvable. Sometimes a hero is simply that family member, friend or neighbor who says and does just the right thing to add a little light to the darkness.

Volunteers, coaches, nurses, teachers – our Hometown Heroes are those unsung people who make Missoula a better place to live, work and play. It’s important we take the time to honor them, and we thank the Missoulian for giving us a great outlet to do so.

If you have a Hometown Hero you’d like to be recognized, nominate him or her HERE.

You don’t have to be a wildland firefighter to know it’s not the most glamorous of jobs.

Hard physical labor under incredible pressure in suffocating heat far, far away from home? Yeah, no thanks. We’re doing just fine sleeping at our desk.
So when we lose a peer who put his or her life on the line for our sake, we feel a strange mixture of pride and guilt. Pride in the unbelievable heroics and sacrifice of humanity; guilt that someone gave their life, literally, to protect our comfortable lifestyle.

That’s exactly where we found ourselves upon hearing of the death of Justin Beebe.

Beebe, 26, was killed by a falling tree while fighting fire with the Lolo Hotshots in eastern Nevada last August.

According to the story, he left his home in Vermont with a stash of his family’s maple syrup and as he interviewed with fire crews he left a can behind – a memento of gratitude.

So what do we do with this strange blend of pride and guilt?

The easiest way to handle it is the way we’ve learned to handle all hard truths – read about it, share a frown or two with coworkers and loved ones, and then forget about it. But that doesn’t allow for a meaningful manifestation of either emotion.

So how about this: How about today, instead of dwelling in the easy-to-dismiss toxic guilt, we feel instead a healthy sense of guilt – the appropriate kind that leads to empathy and compassion?

And how about we transform our internal pride into an external sense of gratitude? How about we show Beebe’s family, his peers on the Lolo crew and their families – in fact, all the great firefighters, military service members and first responders – that we really do appreciate what they do?

Some of you already undertake this important responsibility, and for you we are also thankful. But some of us know we could do better – and there’s never a better time to step up and start doing so than now.

Tomorrow night, join us at Lolo Peak Brewing Company for a special Beebe memorial and fundraiser for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.

WFF provides financial support to the families of firefighters who are injured or die in
the line of action, including both immediate assistance with medical, transportation and funeral costs as well as long-term grief recovery and support.

The brewery has committed to donating a dollar of every pint sold 6-9 pm to the foundation, and members of the Lolo Hotshots will raise even more money through a live raffle.

Brewery managers have promised a large fire, and of course you’re always encouraged to partake in the brewery’s amazing pub fare.

So come eat, have a little fun, give a little time, give a little money. They’ll feel a little better and you’ll feel a little better – we guarantee it.

For more information about Wednesday’s memorial and fundraiser, call 493-6231.

Nearly 70 percent of prescription drug abusers get their drugs not from a doctor, but from friends and family members. Which means you can do a lot to reduce the risk of prescription drug abuse just by ensuring your medications don’t end up in the wrong hands.

Stop by Southgate Mall any time Saturday between 10 am and 2 pm to drop off your unused medications. Just a small way you can protect your friends, your family, and your entire community. If you’re not in Missoula, find out your closest drop-off site HERE.